Veena is an instrument of Indian origin and its history dates to ancient India. It is mentioned in Rigveda, Natyashastra and even mythological accounts of India. Veena is closely knitted to the classical history of Indian classical music and is still used in the classical music performances and in the fusion of classical and modern music. There are various variations of the structure of veena and they form different types of it like Saraswathi veena, Rudra veena and sitar.

Today, we bring to you some music covers played on veena for a refreshing musical experience like never.

The Bollywood song “Kabhi Kabhi” featuring Amitabh Bachchan has been the pleasure to our ears at least once. The song is infused with more vivacity and beauty when Veena Srivani played it over Veena. The gentle spontaneity veena provides to the tune of the song is pleasing and the artists work and efforts spark in the crests and troughs of the music.

The next cover is of the song “Aagaya vennilave” by N.S. Wageshan. Some discoveries become a sweet acquaintance and this one comes in that category. The depth veena adds to the song is highly appreciable. The song and veena complement each other voraciously and the wit of the artist in maintaining the balance is admirable.

The song cover of “Ariyaatha Vayasu” on veena by Rajhesh Vaidhya is a part of his “Do you have a minute” series. The series has more such one-minute covers of songs. The cover as the subject is splendid and makes one sway along with its rising and falling tunes. The sound of veena to the song is impressively soothing.

The last one is presented with Rudra Veena. The mythological accounts state that Rudra Veena was created by Lord Shiva himself. The musical performance by Devkant on Rudra Veena serves the purpose of the instrument’s creation of that of providing a meditative music. The performance is relaxing and is a must watch to give yourself a break from the humdrum routine and experience tranquillity through music.

It is often said that in the cosmic ocean of musical instruments, the piano is the easiest to learn but the hardest to master. The instrument taunts you with its structure and well-placed notes and extracts years and years of dedication and practice from you. Once you become a champion of the ivories, the effect will be incomparable. Today, we bring you artists who’ve done exactly the same.

Playing familiar compositions poses a very unique challenge to the player. On one hand (pun intended) there is a pressure of honouring the intentions of the composer and evoking the exact feeling that the audience is used to but on the other hand, one is also expected to be unique in their intonation and interpretation. Los Angeles based Raashi Kulkarni has walked this line like a master. With an ethereal take on A.R Rahman’s ‘Agar Tum Saath Ho’ from the feature film ‘Tamasha’, she has presented a unique take on the melody. With amazing complexity and chord progressions, she made me feel as if this is the first time I’ve heard the piece, even though I am a big fan of the song. Watching her adept fingers glide effortlessly over the ivories certainly inspired me to take out my own dusty keyboard and practice some scales!

One often forgets that the music which is the easiest on the ears takes the most effort to master. One needs to be intense without ever getting tense. This quality is beautifully exhibited by Pianist Akshay in his piano cover of the title track from “Dhadak’ composed by Ajay-Atul. Adding his own solo flair towards the end, he adds even more magnificence to the song.

I’m fairly certain that every early 2000s kid has been familiar with the hauntingly beautiful song ‘Zara Zara’ from the film ‘Rehna Hai Tere Dil Mein’. Aakash Desai’s cover of the same has rendered an almost ‘sonata-like’ feel to the song. I can assure you that his rendition will touch those long-forgotten musical memories of your heart and inspire you to pick up an instrument.

On a similar tone(the musical puns just don’t end, do they?), we have a rich cover of ‘Bhool Hum Jaayenge’ by PM Sridhar. In less than three minutes, he portrays a beautiful and rich cover of the well-known song. It’s definitely not one to miss out on.

Whenever we listen to a piece of music, a part of us travels through time. The listener and creator shake hands through a veil of timeless music. In the years in which we have been calling this planet our home, one thing has been constant; our desire to remain limitless. Melodies do exactly that. It is funny, at the core, all we ever hear are vibrating particles but they are encoded with a secret shared only amongst those who really listen to it!

One of the sensations of last year was Hanita Bhambri’s Chehra. Never has a melody matched with a voice so perfectly. Even after people are long gone, the faces remain to haunt us forever. We think we have it all figured out, but life is fragile and unpredictable, and those we hold dear are sometimes taken away from us, but the faces, they always stay. This song has that melancholia etched into it. Don’t be surprised to find a little tear trying to escape your eyes after listening to this beautiful composition. “Zindagi par kya zor hai, yeh saansein jab chaahein thamein”. An outdoor porch and a cup of piping hot tee(or coffee) is highly recommended for the listening experience (a slight drizzle won’t be unwelcome either).

You might feel an odd sense of familiarity with this song, but it is as unique as a snowflake. On 28th August, Roney Gupta released an original tracked called ‘Tu bata’. It’s a simple yet bittersweet song about not getting over your former lover. The music along with its video paints a whimsically brilliant picture which leaves an impact in your mind and heart. You
definitely cannot miss out on this beauty!

Have you ever looked up at the great starry night and wondered if somebody, in some long-forgotten time, would have seen the same thing? If you’ve felt that longing then you certainly cannot miss out on Ramil Ganjoo’s Phir Kabhi. It understands the permanence of separation and the realisation that the last time, is indeed the last. But it also has a wistful hope, that as long as you’re tuned to the same music and under the same sky, you’ll still be together! As it says, “ Waqt Aur sitaaron ki baatein hain, Dil Mein Ghule Kuch nazaarein hai, jaate nahi voh Kabhi ”. It is not just the lyrical prowess of the song which held me spellbound, but the wonderful illustration and animation provided by Divyansh Ganjoo are second to none
The use of chorals and strings combined with Ganjoo’s voice will compel you to listen to it on loop for as long as it may take.

On a different theme, our final feature brings Alhad by Bombay Kala Nagri. It is an original instrumental composition which effectively marries traditional Indian instruments with those of the west to create a one-of-a-kind experience. It has an unmistakable cinematic appeal created by the use of orchestral elements like a violin, cello, piano, horns, etc with Indian
Flute. Released on the 26th of August, this piece is transcendental and transfixing. It makes me think of a conflicted warrior choosing duty and honour over personal interests. What imagery does it paint for you?

Speaking of music, our sole savior during this pandemic, I fall out of songs every time and then I keep skipping songs and exploring different artists in a random playlist to find ‘the one’ song finally and discovering some new artists to add in my playlists. It seems to me like a universal problem so here we are with suggestions of music covers by really talented artists.

The musical cadence of her voice might bewitch you and capture you into playing her covers on loop. Varsha Tripathi has a melodious voice and her recent cover of the song “Ek Tarfa” deserves a place in your playlist. She has even performed in the Coke Studio along with the highly acclaimed A.R. Rahman. Check out the cover below, and follow her on Instagram to attend the live singing every Sunday.

“Aap Ki Nazron Ne Samjha” is the song, originally sung by Lata Mangeshkar, that had already touched our hearts once and for all and when artists attempt the cover of this song successfully, we must appreciate their courage for doing so. Gurnam Bhullar’s recent cover on the song truly does justice to the original one. Check out the cover and his YouTube channel for more such covers.

Antarip Adhikary is another singer who uploads wonderful covers of Bollywood songs on his YouTube channel. His recent cover of the song “Baaton Ko Teri” is worth listening and the parallel video adds up to the fun. Check him out on YouTube for more covers of Bollywood songs.

The balance between scrupulous classical and the soul appeasing rock genre elements, that gives your ears the right amount of pleasure, is the best form of fusion in my view. ABC aka Anand Bhaskar Collective brings to us the taste of this balance through their music. And this incredible balance gives them the audacity of beautifully recreating the song, that is capable of mesmerizing us on its own, “Yeh Raat Ye Chandani” originally composed by S.D. Burman and sung by Hemant Kumar. Check out their channel to hear more such covers through the link given below.

It’s not uncommon for us to let go of our creative endeavours when we realise that the world isn’t that kind. The hegemony of industries, the need for intensive networking and the massive requirement of money are just a few of the reasons why we hesitate to take that first step. This notion is so deeply seeded in us, that it prompts us to warn those who want to make it big. The struggle never ends. Ahmedabad based singer-songwriter Darshit Nayak has challenged that notion to its very core.

He’s among the very few people who lay the foundations of their success on sheer independence. From establishing his own music and video production setups to releasing 10+ original compositions, he’s redefined what asli independent means.

His latest track ‘Udne De’ is unlike anything heard in the diaspora of Indian Music. On a canvas of rich instrumentalisation and melodies, Nayak has painted his soul. Not to forget, the lyricism displays incredible depth. He mentions on his social media about how the ‘Rocky’ series inspired him to overcome his environment of dissuasion. It’s a testimony to the fact that all you need is your passion to bring you all you want. Everything about Nayak
screams ‘self-made’ and the video is only proof of it.

The composition, arrangement, artwork, mixing were all accomplished by Nayak alone. A sense of freedom marks the undertones of the song, probably paralleling Nayak’s own flight to freedom. ‘Rok Nahi ab to use, panchi ko pinjre se Udne de’ Don’t stop it now, let the bird fly out from his cage.